Last Updated: Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:59
Defender William Gallas is battling to recover from an eye injury in time to face his former side Chelsea at the Emirates on Sunday.
Gallas suffered the problem after a clash of heads with team-mate Andrey Arshavin during Tuesday's Champions League victory over Standard Liege and his eye was still so bruised on Thursday that he couldn't put in his contact lens.
Mikael Silvestre is on standby to replace him if the Frenchman fails to recover in time while boss Arsene Wenger already has to make one change to his back four from midweek.
Armand Traore set to start his second game of the season with left-backs Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs ruled out by long-term injuries.
Strikers Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner remain on the injury sidelines while midfielder Abou Diaby will be out for three weeks with a calf problem.
But Brazilian midfielder Denison is in line to start while there could also be a role in Wenger's plans for winger Theo Walcott as Arsenal bid to gain revenge for last season's 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea - their biggest defeat of the campaign at the Emirates.